"Ratatouille" set to cook up an Oscar win

By Debra Kaufman

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - For animators, it's never about the technique. It's always about the artistry: the appeal of the characters, the richness of the details, the whimsy of the animation, the strength of the story.

The three Academy Award nominees for best animated feature film -- Sony Pictures Classics' "Persepolis," Disney/Pixar's "Ratatouille" and Sony's "Surf's Up" -- embody that artistry and epitomize the variety of ways that animation can hit the mark.

Critics, animators and civilians alike have praised "Ratatouille" for its combination of endearing characters, indisputable attention to detail and its powerful, classic animation. Perhaps only Pixar, and writer-director Brad Bird, could turn an unlikely tale about a rat in the kitchen into a film so thoroughly enjoyable for adults and children that many have said "Ratatouille" is Pixar's best effort in years. This is the film to beat when the Academy Awards take place Sunday.

French-language 2-D "Persepolis" might possibly pull that off. From a technical standpoint, this out-of-left-field entry couldn't be more different than "Ratatouille." The coming-of-age tale about a young Iranian girl is hand-drawn, in black and white, and presented to American audiences with subtitles. "Persepolis" proves what U.S. animators have been saying for years: Animation isn't just for kids.

And the nomination of penguin-populated "Surf's Up," which didn't draw huge crowds (perhaps because they were weary of stories about the flightless birds), gives this extraordinarily charming and well-done film the recognition it deserves but failed to receive at the boxoffice.

Here's a closer look at the Oscar nominees for best animated feature.

PERSEPOLIS

"Persepolis" is "a little film," says animation author-historian Jerry Beck. "It's the complete opposite of 'Ratatouille' and (is in) a total David and Goliath (situation)." Beck also thinks "Persepolis" stands out for another reason. "It's important for the animation community because it's an adult film," he says. "'Persepolis' is about real people and real events and even has a few dirty words. It's going to give 'Ratatouille' a run for its money."